The Colorado Department of Transportation’s statewide bus service has posted another quarter of strong ridership growth, with a nearly 25 percent jump between July and November compared with the same period last year. The department is looking to expand it along the Front Range and through the mountains, including a possible Frisco-to-Steamboat Springs route. Department spokesman Bob Wilson said that a new route between Steamboat Springs and Frisco would likely become available next year or in 2019, along with stops in Castle Rock and the Denver Tech Center on the South Route.

TSA is testing new security changes at DIA

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is testing new security changes at more than 10 airports – including Denver International Airport – four months after officials started implementing new screening producers for electronics. TSA officials were at DIA to share not only holiday travel tips but also to discuss new procedures for screening electronics at checkpoints. The new requirements ask that travelers place all electronics larger than a cell phone in bins for X-ray screening in standard lanes. TSA officials said this new screening procedure is now being performed at some checkpoints at DIA, but will be fully implemented across the whole airport starting in 2018.

Breckenridge commits to renewable energy by 2035

A Colorado town council backed a resolution affirming the town’s commitment to having all town buildings completely powered by renewable resources by 2035. Councilwoman Wendy Wolfe expressed her reservations before casting a vote in favor of the resolution, the second clean-energy commitment council has adopted in the last three months. Town Council passed a similar resolution in August, stating the town’s commitment to having all town facilities powered by renewable resources by 2025, but extending that commitment townwide was a bridge too far at the time, with individual council members expressing fears the broader measure could drive up electricity costs and bind the hands of future councils.

Our Government

White House

Thirteen states this year have seen their unemployment rates drop to the lowest levels ever recorded since the federal government began keeping track of state-level data more than four decades ago. In October, the unemployment rates in Alabama, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas and Washington all met or beat their lowest rates ever recorded by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), according to the agency’s monthly report issued Friday. California, Colorado, Idaho, North Dakota and Oregon also hit new lows earlier this year.

Colorado Governor

Gov. John Hickenlooper today announced Boards and Commissions appointments to the Emergency Medical Practice Advisory Council and the Colorado State Fair Authority Board of Commissioners. The Colorado State Fair Authority Board of Commissioners directs and supervises the Colorado State Fair and Industrial Exposition. The Fair is held annually at Pueblo for the display of livestock and agricultural, horticultural, industrial, mining, recreational, educational and scientific products of the State of Colorado.

Denver Mayor

Mayor Hancock appointed Eulois Cleckley as the next Executive Director of the Department of Public Works. At Public Works, Cleckley will oversee one of the city’s largest and most dynamic departments, managing the majority of services involving public infrastructure and facilities for residents and businesses. Cleckley will play a critical role in implementing the $937 million general obligation bond overwhelmingly passed by voters just last week, which will help to jump start Mayor Hancock’s Mobility Action Plan, among other major upgrades and improvements.